“There’s no way I’ll be able to do this.”
I stood again in the same place: the balcony where brother would once again fall to his death.
He appeared at the end of the hall with a small smile on his face.
"What makes you think that?"
"I screwed up. Twice. How do you think I’ll survive a semester here, let alone a year? It's going to be impossible," I stressed, knowing I didn't have much time.
Brother began his slow walk towards me and I tried to hold back the fear and sadness that wanted to overtake me and leave me in despair like every dream I remembered.
"People make mistakes, but it doesn't mean your path ends here," Gabriel explained as his gold eyes met mine.
Regret was written all over them as he got closer and closer to where I stood.
"My dorm mates. They won't cover for me forever! People aren't nice like that. There's always a catch," I emphasized.
People always showed their perfectly innocent faces, like when we asked for help during Gabriel's funeral.
We didn't know later they would be expecting some type of compensation for their assistance.
No payback resulted in mockery and them trying their best to ruin my mom's name behind her back. That was until she got her disease; then people couldn't continue with that plan because it would make them look like the bad individuals they truly were.
Everyone knew appearances mattered.
Why would these guys be okay with protecting mine with no promise of anything in return?
Brother reached my side, turning his head to face me.
"You need to have more faith in people, my sweet sister,” he whispered before continuing his journey to the ledge.
"How can I have faith when people always let me down?" I asked softly.
"There are good and bad people in this world, sis. It comes down to who you choose to have by your side and protect you versus those who are poking you in the sides with needles. Trust those instincts of yours," he explained.
He turned around to face me, preparing to fall back off the balcony like always.
"What if my instincts are wrong? What if they're clouded because of..." I couldn't finish, unsure what was really affecting my instincts.
Attraction? Acceptance? The reality I was in a dorm with six men whose looks alone would be enough to send me straight to the burning pits down below for my ways of thinking.
"Jewel."
I lifted my head to see my brother's wide smile as tears pooled in those golden orbs of his.
"Your instincts are never wrong. Listen to them. End the cycle."
His body leaned back and just like always, he fell over the edge.
The only difference was I didn't have the strength to scream this time.
"Jewel?”
I stirred at Logan's gentle voice. I didn't feel like waking up, trying to focus on my dream a little longer.
Listen to my instincts? End the cycle? What cycle, Gabriel?
"This is all Brother’s fault," Kage sighed.